The Vols need two pieces to cap off a quality recruiting class. Can they get them?

McCallie's Jay Hardy, left, sacks MBA's Marcel Reed during the Division II-AAA BlueCross Bowl state title game on Dec. 5 at Tennessee Tech in Cookeville. / Staff photo by C.B. Schmelter
McCallie's Jay Hardy, left, sacks MBA's Marcel Reed during the Division II-AAA BlueCross Bowl state title game on Dec. 5 at Tennessee Tech in Cookeville. / Staff photo by C.B. Schmelter

KNOXVILLE - Tennessee already has done a quality job of recruiting for the 2020 football signing class, with a top-15 group by all accounts.

The Volunteers, who overcame a poor start this season to go 7-5 and earn a spot in next week's TaxSlayer Gator Bowl, addressed needs at virtually every position.

Last week's early signing period provided what the program needed, especially as it closed in the final week with six players who weren't previously committed to the Vols. Tennessee got more versatile at quarterback, faster at receiver and deeper on the offensive line and continued to improve on defense. It added two running backs - Tee Hodge and Len'Neth Whitehead - whose size and athletic ability eventually could land them on defense, although coach Jeremy Pruitt said last week that both would start out at running back.

But to get back to where the Vols once were and to be able to compete with the upper-echelon teams in not only the Southeastern Conference but the country, they need more.

The Vols will enter the home stretch before the final signing period starts Feb. 5 with four scholarships available, depending on how they choose to allocate them. Tennessee could choose to go the "blueshirt" route with committed athlete Darion Williamson, who missed his senior high school season due to injury and never officially visited campus. That would open another spot.

Tennessee also technically has a commitment from offensive lineman Kyree Miller, but he chose not to sign during the early period and has scrubbed all mention of the Vols from his Twitter bio.

But as of now, there are two primary prospects the program could add in February to bolster what already has been a good class:

* Athlete Darnell Washington: Rated the No. 1 "athlete" prospect in the country, the 6-foot-7, 261-pounder from Las Vegas allegedly signed early with the school of his choice but declined to have it publicized, according to Washington himself. He plans to announce the decision next Jan. 2 at the All-American Bowl, with his choices supposedly narrowed to Alabama, Georgia and the Vols.

Tennessee hosted him six times, including his final official visit on Dec. 18, the weekend before the early signing period. Most signs point to him joining the Bulldogs, but if the Vols were to steal him, the projected tight end immediately would be the most talented prospect they ever have had at the position.

* Defensive lineman Jay Hardy: The McCallie standout defensive tackle has been on Tennessee's radar for quite some time now. Most expected the 6-4, 290-pounder to choose the Vols when he announced his commitment at a ceremony on Nov. 6, but instead Hardy picked Auburn, citing "a good relationship with the coaches."

He didn't sign during the early period, however, which has the Vols feeling they may have a chance to flip the talented defender. Tennessee isn't expected to lose any linemen after this season but will have six seniors on the 2020 roster and could use players who can be ready to contribute in 2021. Hardy would fit that bill.

Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @genehenley3 or at Facebook.com/VolsUpdate.

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